Cong serves privilege notice against Odisha minister

The opposition Congress today served a privilege notice against Odisha's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, who on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik replied to a debate in the Assembly on the alleged police firing at Namtara village in Kendrapara district.
Congress MLA from Aul Devendra Sharma served the notice against Arukh alleging that the minister had given false information on Namtara firing incident in the Assembly on March 11.
In his notice, Sharma said during a debate over an adjournment motion the minister had informed the House there were blank firings from the police to disperse agitated people who were protesting against a liquor shop in Namtara of Kendrapara district and no one was injured.

"However, six persons undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack have sustained bullet injuries on March 8 incident," Sharma alleged.
Sharma's privilege notice got support from Congress legislators Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Prafulla Majhi.
Demanding a ruling from the Speaker, the Congress members rushed to well of the House. The opposition criticised Arukh over his remark on March 11 that the chief minister was meeting union ministers in Delhi to discuss about the interests of the state.
Congress MLAs alleged that in the chief minister's schedule on March 11 there was no mention about his working day which showed the minister had given false information to the House.